Hand-held data acquisition device

ABSTRACT

A hand held terminal for optically scanning coded information has an electronic housing with a major axis, an intermediate axis and a minor axis. An optical scanning device is mounted at a first longitudinal end of the terminal with respect to the major axis. A multi-line information display is arranged on a top surface of the housing such that the display is facing in a direction corresponding to the minor axis. The terminal further has a handle with a handgrip extending outwardly from the housing at a second longitudinal end. The axis of the handle forms an angle of approximately 0 to 45 degrees from the major axis and is perpendicular to the intermediate axis. An operator control is arranged on said top surface adjacent the second end of said housing such that the control can be operated by the thumb on a hand grasping the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for optically acquiringdata, and in particular to optical bar codes scanning devices.

[0002] Hand-held scanning devices are well known and used typically inconnection with checkout stations at supermarkets and other retailestablishments for reading bar codes on products being purchased by acustomer. Such devices are also useful in connection with takinginventory and in connection with warehousing, shipping and storage ofproducts. The assignee of the present application, Symbol Technologies,Inc., currently markets a Personal Shopping System wherein customers ofa retail establishment can check-out individual product scanningdevices, which are portable. During the customer's visit to the store,the customer scans products being purchased as the products are placedin the shopping basket. Product information acquired during thecustomers shopping is either stored in the portable terminal to be readout when the terminal is returned or relayed to a store computer bylocal area radio. When the customer has gathered all desired products,itemized check-out is not required since the products have already beenscanned, and the device or central computer can be used to prepare afull list of the customers purchases and the price to be paid by thecustomer.

[0003] Currently used terminals for the Personal Shopping System tend tobe rather large and bulky because of the inclusion of computer circuits,a bar code scanner, batteries, and in many instances a local area radio.In order to promote greater utilization of the Personal Shopping Systemand improved customer and merchant acceptance thereof, there is arecognized desire to provide hand-held terminals that are smaller insize, lighter in weight, more easily held and used by the customer andprovide greater functionality. The present invention provides anergonomically designed hand-held terminal which uses more compact andlight-weight electronics and provides an improved and more comfortableshape for use by the customer. In addition, there is a desire to providea convenient mounting receptacle at which the customers receives theterminals upon entering the store and an accessory for holding theterminal while shopping. The present invention, provides a new andimproved cradle for receiving and dispensing hand-held terminals tocustomers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with the invention, a hand-held terminal isprovided for optically scanning coded information. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the terminal includes an electronichousing having a major axis, an intermediate axis and an minor axis. Anoptical scanning device is mounted at a first longitudinal end of theelectronic housing with respect to the major access. A multi-lineinformation display is arranged on a top surface of the electronichousing, facing in a direction corresponding to the minor axis. A handleis provided comprising a handgrip having a handle axis and extendingoutwardly from the electronic housing at a second longitudinal endthereof. The handle axis forms an angle of approximately 15 to 40degrees from the major axis and approximately 75 to 50 degrees from theminor axis. The handle axis is perpendicular to the intermediate axis.An operator control is arranged on the top surface adjacent the secondend of the electronic housing for operation by the thumb of a user.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hand-heldterminal is provided with a transverse rest stand on an end of thehandle remote from the electronic housing. An electrical connector mayalso be provided at the remote end of the handle. The display ispreferably recessed in the top surface to prevent damage thereto in theevent the terminal is dropped. To further prevent damage to theterminal, the exterior facing surfaces of the electronic housing maycomprise a resilient, impact-resistant material. An indicator lamp canbe provided on the top surface of the electronic housing. A trigger ispreferably provided on the handle adjacent the intersection of thehandle with the electronic housing. The operator controls on the topsurface may comprise buttons or in one embodiment, may comprise a touchpad or, in another preferred embodiment, a touch screen with softwaredefined activated keys.

[0005] In accordance with the invention, there is further providing acradle for receiving a hand-held terminal. The cradle includes arectangular base having first and second side walls and a rear wall. Afront wall comprising a concave cylindrical mounting surface, isarranged between the side walls. A pocket extends outward from themounting surface for receiving a handle of a terminal with a housing ofthe terminal partially surrounded by the cylindrical mounting surface.In a preferred arrangement, the pocket is arranged at an angle withrespect to the cylindrical mounting surface corresponding to the anglebetween the handle axis and the major axis of the electronic housing ofthe terminal. The pocket preferably includes an electrical connector forengaging an electrical connector on the handle of the terminal. Thepocket preferably comprises an open upper end for receiving the handleand an substantially closed lower end. An opening is provided in thelower end for allowing debris to fall out of the pocket. The pocket mayadditionally include a locking member and there may be provided alocking circuit connected to an electrical connector in the pocket. Theelectrical locking circuit responds to an unlock signal provided to theelectrical connector by a terminal. In one arrangement, at least aportion of the front wall is fabricated of translucent material and oneor more lamps are provided behind the front wall, arranged to beactivated by a lamp signal provided to the electrical connector by theterminal. This translucent wall may consist of a replaceable insertwhich may be modified to include location specific markings such asstore names, location identifiers and/or product advertising. The cradlemay further include a member extending outwardly from the concavecylindrical mounting surface and facing the pocket for supporting aoptically readable label and for receiving a single card reader member.

[0006] In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention,there is provided a method for providing self-service terminals toshoppers in a retail establishment. The method includes inserting aterminal in a cradle, which cradle includes a locking circuit and anelectrical connector for supplying power to the terminal and forreceiving data communication from the terminal. The cradle preferablyincludes an optically readable label. The terminal is operated to readthe label and communicate label data to a central computer by radio. Inan alternative preferred embodiment, the method includes readingcustomer provided identification at either a customer station or at theterminal and communicating identification data to the central computer.The central computer is operated to verify the customer identificationand to select a terminal for use by the customer. Thereafter a radiosignal is sent from the central computer to the terminal and theterminal is operated to send data communications to the cradle by theconnector, the data communications operating the locking circuit. Thecustomer is notified of the selected terminal.

[0007] According to one method, the customer may be notified byilluminating a portion of the cradle. Alternately, or in addition, amessage can be provided on a display screen and/or an audio signal maybe activated.

[0008] In accordance with the invention there is provided an electronicassembly for the hand-held data acquisition terminal. The assemblyincludes a lower housing member having an upper opening and an upperhousing member arranged to close the upper opening and including adisplay window. A chassis is arranged to be mechanically mounted betweenthe lower and upper housing members. The chassis has upper and lowerrecesses, such that a display can be mounted in the upper recess of thechassis facing the display window and a first circuit can be mounted inthe lower recess of the chassis. A second circuit is mounted to thechassis covering the lower recess and the first circuit mounted therein.

[0009] In a preferred arrangement one of the housing members includes awindow at a longitudinal end thereof and an optical scanner is mountedadjacent to said window on a support bracket carried by the chassis. Thesupport bracket may be mounted to the second window and include anon-conductive spacer. An antenna can be mounted on the non-conductivespacer on a side opposite the second circuit.

[0010] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there isprovided an accessory for a handle on a shopping cart. The accessorycomprises a body member having a receiving portion arranged to receive ahand-held terminal. The accessory further includes a clamping memberconnected to the body member and arranged to provide clamping actionwith respect thereto. The body member and the clamping member define anintermediate bore for receiving the handle. Within the base there isprovided an interchangeable cylindrical clamp spacer having a peripherycorresponding to the cross-section of the bore and an internalcylindrical hole with a cross-section selected to closely surround thehandle.

[0011] In a preferred arrangement the intermediate bore is circular andcomprises semi-circular cylindrical recesses on the body member and theclamping member. The clamping member can be pivotably connected to thebody member at a first side of the intermediate bore and connected tothe body member by a clamping screw at a second side of the intermediatebore. The clamping spacer may include an axial slot.

[0012] In a preferred alternative embodiment, the terminal is providedwith additional modular accessories such as a keyboard, mag-stripreader, a heads up display including audio speakers, microphone and/orvideo; electronic surveillance tag deactivators, smart card reader,touch sensitive display and/or voice over IP capability. Theseperipheral devices provide additional functionality for the terminal sothat they may provide additional terminal functionality. For example,the terminals may function as inventory terminals, a checkout register,terminal assistants to shoppers who may be blind, hard of hearing orhave other disabilities, or function as a manager's assistant terminalfor retrieving audio/visual information from external locations. Theseperipherals, also referred to as a companion device, could be coupleddirectly through a communication port on the terminal or include abattery and transceiver to communicate with the terminal. In a furtherembodiment, the companion device includes a transceiver which is a radiowhich communicates directly with the same host network to which theterminal is coupled, but which is “associated” with the terminal byactivating the peripheral device to communicate with the networkscanning a special bar code on the peripheral device and therebyassociating data entered on the peripheral device to the terminal.

[0013] For a better understanding of the present invention, togetherwith other and further objects, reference is made to the followingdescription, taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, andits scope would be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a hand-held terminal inaccordance with the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a top view of the FIG. 1 hand-held terminal.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternate terminal embodiment.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a cradle for the FIG. 1 orFIG. 3 terminal.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the FIG. 4 cradle.

[0019]FIGS. 6 and 6A are a first cross sectional view of two alternativeembodiments of the FIG. 4 cradle.

[0020]FIG. 7 is longitudinal cross sectional view of the FIG. 4 cradle.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a further cross sectional view of the FIG. 4 cradle.

[0022]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a store dispensing system using theterminals and cradles of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a hand-held terminal showing thearrangement of components in the electronic housing.

[0024]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the assembledconfiguration of components in the electronic housing of a terminal inaccordance with the invention.

[0025]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shopping cart accessory useablewith the hand-held terminal of the present invention.

[0026]FIGS. 13A through 13D show interchangeable clamp spacers for usewith the FIG. 12 accessory.

[0027]FIGS. 14A and 14B are flow charts of ISO methods for releasinglocked terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown side and top views ofa preferred embodiment of a hand-held terminal 10 according to thepresent invention. Terminal 10 includes an electronic housing 12, whichin the illustrated embodiment is ovoid in shape, having a major axis 16along the length thereof, an intermediate axis 18 transversely acrossthe housing, and a minor axis 20. A handle member 14 in the shape of ahandgrip and having handle axis 15 extends from the housing 12. Anoptical bar code scanner 32 is mounted at a first longitudinal end ofthe ovoid electronic housing 12 with respect to the major axis 16thereof. The handle 14 extends outwardly from a second longitudinal endof the electronic housing 12 opposite to the first end, with respect tolongitudinal axis 16. Handle 14 has a handle axis 15 which extends at anangle of approximately 0 to 45 degrees from major axis 16 of the housing12. Preferably the angle between handle axis 15 and major axis 16 is inthe range of 15 to 30 degrees. The handle axis 15 forms an angle of 90to 45, preferably 75 to 60 degrees with minor axis 20. In the preferredembodiment, axis 15 of handle 14 is perpendicular to intermediate axis18 of housing 12. Handle 14 preferably includes a horizontal rest member36, extending transversely at the end of handle 14 remote from housing12. Rest member 36 also accommodates electrical connector 59 andprovides an extending surface for engaging a locking member in thecradle, as will be described. Housing 12 includes a top surface 22 whichincludes a multi-line display 24, such as a pixel addressable liquidcrystal display which could provide about eight lines of text andgraphics, for displaying data and graphics to the user. Display 24 ispreferably recessed into the top surface 22, as shown in FIG. 1, toprovide protection from impact if the terminal is dropped. Preferablythe outer surface of ovoid housing 12 is fabricated from an elastomericresilient material, such as polycarbonate or ABS, to protect theelectronic equipment from shock. Top surface 22 also includes controlbuttons 26 which are easily accessed by the thumb of a user whilegripping handle 14. Additional buttons 28 are provided for performingfunctions which are less often required to be performed by the user, forexample scrolling of the displayed information on screen 24. A triggerbutton 30 is provided on handle 14 near the intersection of handle 14with electronic housing 12, for convenient use to trigger the scanningof an item by the user. An indicator lamp 29, such as a multicolorl.e.d., may be provided to indicate to the user that a bar code has beensuccessfully read by the terminal.

[0029] An alternate arrangement for the hand-held data acquisitionterminal 10′ is shown in FIG. 3. Terminal 10′ is similar to the terminalshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that buttons 26 are replaced with a touchpad 34, which is, of the type that may, for example, control scrollingof information on display 24, and also provide selection of functions orfeatures. A suitable touch pad device is the touch pad used inconnection with the GlidePoint device available from Alps ElectricCompany Limited of Japan. Alternatively, manual key activation couldalso be provided by a touch screen display having software defined userinterface buttons which could be configured to provide user inputcommands. Alternatively, a thumbwell could be provided to scrool throughvarious options and select a desired command or field. The thumbwellwould have a rotating function for scrolling in one of two directionsand be capable of pressing to select a specific selection once it isselected.

[0030]FIGS. 4 through 8 show a modular cradle 40 for holding and storingthe portable terminal devices of FIGS. 1 through 3. The cradle 40 ismodular to enable any number of cradles 40 to be mounted on a terminaldispenser in a rectangular grid, as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, cradle40 includes a rectangular back wall 42 and side walls 44. Arrangedbetween side walls 44 is a concave cylindrical surface 46. It should beunderstood that surface 46 need not be a circular cylinder, but can beany concave cylindrical shape, including without limitation an ellipse,parabola or multi-sided channel, for example. A pocket 48 extendsoutwardly from cylindrical surface 46 and includes an upper opening 50into which the handle 14 of terminal 10 may be inserted. For mechanicalstrength, pocket 48 may be mechanically mounted to back wall 42 andextend through a conformal opening in surface 46. With the handle 14inserted in pocket 48, the electronic housing 12 sits at least partiallywithin the recess formed by cylindrical surface 46 between pocket 48 andlabel-mounting member 54. A small opening 52 is provided at the lowerend of pocket 48 to enable debris and other material that mightaccidentally enter the pocket to fall out through the bottom and not beretained therein. Modular cradle 40 may include top and bottom walls 54to close the ends thereof, as is shown in the bottom view of FIG. 5. Thecross sectional view of FIG. 6 shows label mounting member 54 whichextends outwardly from cylindrical surface 46 at the upper end of thecradle 40. Member 54 provides a convenient location for placing a label56 which is viewable by the optical scanning device 32 when terminal 10is placed in cradle 40. Accordingly, terminal 10 can operate to readlabel 56, and by radio communication, notify a central computer 80 inwhich, of multiple cradles 40, terminal 10 has been placed.

[0031]FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of cradle 40 showinglabel mounted member 54, end walls 55, and pocket 48. Pocket 48 ispreferably at an angle with respect to mounting surface 46 correspondingapproximately to the angle between the major axis 16 of housing 12 andhandle axis 15, and preferably includes an electrical connector 58 whichmates with a corresponding electrical connector 59 at the remote end ofhandle 14 of terminal 10. Using connector 58 power can be provided toterminal 10 when it is mounted in cradle 40, such as for the purpose ofcharging batteries therein. In addition, connector 58 can providesignaling connections for data communication between terminal 10 and theprocessor therein and circuits mounted on cradle 40. In particular,cradle 40 may include a locking mechanism 62 which is arranged to engagewith rest member 36 on the remote end of handle 14 of terminal 10. Therest member could also be a groove for receiving the cord. Lockingmember 62 is operated by a locking circuit 64 which can unlock lockingmember 62 upon receiving a signal from terminal 10. The signal to unlockis originated by terminal 10 upon receipt of a command, such as by radiocommunication, from a central computer 80.

[0032] In one arrangement, the cylindrical surface 46 and optionallypocket 48 may be made up of translucent material. In this case, a lightor lights 60 may be provided behind the translucent cylindrical surface46. Such light can be activated to back-light the translucentcylindrical member and thereby signal to a customer which terminal isavailable and unlocked for his or her use. Lights 60 could also be usedto provide notice of unit malfunction and/or low battery warning.Multicolor LEDs could provide a screen light illumination to signal avalid charged terminal and a red or orange LED could signal amalfunctioning unit.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, member 54 of the cradle is a removablemodular component which could be replaced with a member 54 for readingcustomer identification cards. The slot 201 would slidably receive acard 205 including a bar code 256 which identifies the customer. Uponinsertion of the card, a card sensor 210 which is in communication withthe terminal could be used to activate the terminal; otherwise theterminal's reader could be set in a blink mode to determine if acustomer identification code is present without using an unnecessaryamount of information. If so, the terminal would transmit theinformation to a host, obtain permission to be released and activate theterminal release mechanism and green LED lights on the cradle. A barcode 56 identifying the location of the cradle would also be placed inthe opening which would be covered by an identification card placed intothe slot 201. Such a system would obviate the need to provide anentrance head to the system or a central card reader and providesgreater flexibility in locating the cradles throughout the facility.

[0034] Alternatively, the system could be employed during busy periodsof terminal assignments as a means for assuring that the correct user isbeing permitted to retrieve the correct terminal. An alternative to thecard sensor 210 could also be employed in that once a card is placed infront of the terminal bar code reader, the bar code reader could beactivated by simply pressing on any of the keys exposed on the terminal.Alternatively, the terminal would be in a constant blink mode where itsimply turns itself on every one or two seconds to determine if anauthorized release bar code is present.

[0035]FIG. 9 illustrates the components of a self-service shoppingsystem 70 using terminal 10 and cradle 40 according to the presentinvention. A customer service station 74 is provided which may includean identification card reader 78 and a display 76. The card reader couldbe a mag stripe reader, bar code scanner, retinal scanner or other formof user identification. Accordingly, the identification card could bereplaced with a biometric user identification system. When a customerdesires to check-out a self-service terminal 10, the customer inserts amachine readable identification device into card reader 78. Customerservice station 74 sends the identification data from the identificationdevice to computer 80 by radio or wired data communication. Computer 80verifies the identification and selects one of terminals 10 for use bythe customer. Computer 80 may also signal service station 74 to providea message on display 76, such as “Welcome Ms. Jones, please use theterminal at position 5.” Computer 80 may signal dispenser 72 to releasethe selected terminal, but preferably terminal release is controlled bya direct signal to the terminal itself, by radio data link. It should beunderstood that computer 80 selects terminals in rotation to provideuniform usage and to allow the terminals sufficient time for charging indispenser 72, Where terminal release is controlled by radio signal tothe terminal itself, dispenser 72 need only provide power to theindividual modular cradles 40, thereby simplifying the arrangement forwiring dispenser 72.

[0036] When a terminal is selected for being dispensed to a customer,the customer may be advised in multiple ways. First, the display 76 maydisplay a message to the customer indicating the cradle, e.g. by number,having the terminal assigned. Second, either a light 60 in the cradle 40or a light 29 on terminal 10 can be caused to flash to attract thecustomer's attention. Finally, the customer's name may be displayed onthe display 24 of the selected terminal.

[0037] Two alternative methods of dispensing the terminals from thecradle are described in flow charts in FIGS. 14A-B.

[0038] During use of a terminal 10, data concerning items scanned by aterminal 10 can be supplied by radio link to computer 80 which willaccumulate an item list for each customer. Alternately, the list may bemaintained in a working memory of terminal 10, to be provided tocomputer 80 upon periodic radio polling, or when terminal 10 is returnedto a cradle 40 in dispenser 72. If wired data connection to theterminals is provided in dispenser 72, the purchase data may bedownloaded to computer 80 over a wired network. When the terminal 10 isreturned to dispenser 72, the bar code reader 32 on terminal 10 may beautomatically activated to read the bar code label 56 on cradle 40 toidentify to computer 80 the position of that particular terminal indispenser 72 and to signal a completed customer transaction (or placethe transaction in a suspend mode so as to be completed at a checkoutstation or kiosk station upon payment and/or addition or deletion ofitems from the original list) and communicate such activity to a centralhost.

[0039] The data regarding a customer's purchases is provided by computer80 by wire or radio link to a cashier station 82, where payment forpurchased products can be collected and a receipt issued. Alternately, aprinter may be provided to print the list to be carried to the cashierwhen a terminal is returned to dispenser 72. The list could be printedwith a high density bar code such as PDF417 so that the list could bemachine read into the cashier.

[0040]FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating a mechanical assemblytechnique for a hand-held terminal 10 according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention. The housing of terminal 10 includesa lower housing member 150 which is open on the upper side. The upperopening of housing member 150 is closed by an upper housing member 152.Upper housing member 152 has a recess in its upper surface whichreceives a button print circuit board 156, operating buttons 26 and atransparent window insert 154. The components on the recess of upperhousing member 152 are retained by attachment of upper surface insert 22to upper housing member 152. A light pipe 24, which conveys light from alight emitting diode on circuit board 166, may also be retained betweenupper housing member 152 and top surface insert 22. Top surface insert22 maybe customized according to the desires of the system user, forexample, a selected color may be used and displaying the logo of asupermarket chain or the like may be imprinted. A display circuit 24 ismounted in an upper recess 60 of a chassis 158 immediately below upperhousing member 150 and adjacent a window opening in upper housing member150, which is covered by transparent window 154. The lower side ofchassis 158 has a further recess 162 which is arranged to receive afirst circuit 154, which might, for example, be a compact radio circuitfor transmitting data over a local area wireless network to a centralcomputer. A second circuit 166 is mounted to chassis 158 on a lower sidecovering first circuit 164. Circuit 166 may include, for example, amicroprocessor based computer circuit for operating and controlling thehand-held terminal and for storing and processing data acquired by theterminal. A mounting bracket 168 is mounted to the lower side of secondcircuit 166. Mounting bracket 168 is arranged to carry an opticalscanner device 32 which is oriented to scan in a forward direction at afirst lateral end of lower housing 150, for example, to acquire data byscanning bar codes. Bracket 168 can further act as a non-conductivespacer carrying antenna 170 at the lower side thereof, spaced from theconductive ground plane of second circuit 166.

[0041] The terminal of FIG. 10 is shown in its assembled cross-sectionconfiguration in FIG. 11. It will be recognized that the mechanicalconfiguration of circuits and components shown in FIG. 10 and asassembly in FIG. 11 provides a highly compact terminal thereby enablingstate of the art data acquisition terminal to be enclosed in arelatively small and ergonomical design configuration. Referring againto FIG. 10, it is shown that the handle portion of the terminal includesa trigger 30, battery 174 and a connector 59. A cover 176 providesaccess to the battery compartment within the handle portion.

[0042]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an accessory 100 useful inconnection with the hand-held terminal 10 of the present invention.Accessory 100 is designed to be mounted to the handle bar 116 of ashopping cart or similar device, such as a material cart used in aconstruction supply store. Accessory 100 includes a body 102 and aclamping member 104 which are movable with respect to each other. In thearrangement illustrated in FIG. 12 clamping member 104 is connected tobody member 102 by a pivot connection 106. Clamping force betweenmembers 102 and 104 is provided by a clamping screw 108. Between members102 and 104 there is provided an intermediate bore 110 which is in theform of a cylinder in the FIG. 12 embodiment. It should be understoodthat as used herein the terms cylinder, cylindrical bore and cylindricalhole are not confined to circular cylinders but include cylindricalextensions of other cross-sectional shaped, including square shapes andovoid shapes, for example. Cylinder bore 110 in the illustratedembodiment is formed from a semi-circular cylindrical recess on bodymember 102 and an opposing semi-circular cylindrical recess on clampingmember 104. An interchangeable clamp spacer 112A is provided withincylindrical bore 110 and has an internal cylindrical hole 114A with across-section selected to closely surround the handle 116 of a shoppingcart. Clamp spacer 112A may include an axial slot 115 to accommodatecompression of clamp spacer 112A between body member 102 and clampingmember 104.

[0043] Body member 102 includes an extension forming an open end pocket118 which is sized and arranged to receive the handle portion 14 ofterminal 10. The lower end 120 of pocket 118 is provided with a smallopening to prevent accumulation of debris in the pocket.

[0044]FIGS. 13A through 13D illustrates varying configurations 112A to112D for the interchangeable clamp spacer. The outer periphery of clampspacer 112 is sized to fit closely within intermediate bore 110 ofaccessory 100, and accordingly the interchangeable inserts have the sameouter peripheral size. A protrusion 122 may be provided on the peripheryof clamp spacers 112 to be received in a corresponding recess andprevent rotation of the clamp spacer 112 with respect to accessory 100as illustrated in FIG. 13. Clamp spacer 112A has a circular central hole114A. Clamp spacer 112B has a larger diameter internal circular hole114B. Clamp spacer 112C has an ovoid cross-section internal cylindricalhole 114C. Clamp spacer 112D has a square cross-section internalcylindrical hole 114D.

[0045] While there have been described what are believed to be thepreferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the artwill recognize that other and further modifications may be made theretowithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intendedto claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the truescope of the invention. For example, the system could be modified toprovide for a non-ovoid upper housing or to provide an IR port whichshares space with the optical reader 32 so that a corresponding IR portcould be placed on member 54 of the cradle 40 to provide for datacommunication between the terminal and the host. The bar code readercould also be a laser scanner such as the SE900 available from SymbolTechnologies, Inc. or a CCD or CMOS type reader which does not employlaser scanning. In the event the system is to read other machine codedlabels or tags, the bar code reader could also be replaced oraccompanied by an appropriate reader such as an electromagnetic reader,RFID reader or EAS deactivation module. If the terminal is to work in anenvironment employing RFID tags, the radio used to communicate data tothe host over the wireless network could also be employed to communicateto the RFID tag. In the event an antenna is required which is differentfrom the radio's antenna, a focused antenna module could be placed inthe place of the bar code reader so that it would be directed to theselected product and avoid reading non-selected tags.

In the claims:
 1. A hand held terminal for optically scanning codedinformation, comprising: an electronic housing having a major axis, anintermediate axis and a minor axis and an optical scanning devicemounted at a first longitudinal end thereof with respect to said majoraxis; a multiline information display arranged on a top surface of saidelectronic housing, said display facing in a direction corresponding tosaid minor axis; a handle comprising a handgrip having a handle axis andextending outwardly from said electronic housing at a secondlongitudinal end thereof, said handle axis forming an angle ofapproximately 0 to 45 degrees from said major axis and beingperpendicular to said intermediate axis; and an operator controlarranged on said top surface adjacent said second end of said ovoidelectronic housing for operation by the thumb of a user.
 2. A hand-heldterminal as specified in claim 1 wherein there is provided a transverserest stand on an end of said handle remote from said electronic housing.3. A hand-held terminal as specified in claim 1 wherein an electricalconnector is provided on an end of said handle remote from saidelectronic housing.
 4. A hand-held terminal as specified in claim 1wherein said display is recessed in said top surface.
 5. A hand-heldterminal as specified in claim 1 wherein exterior facing surfaces ofsaid avoid electronic housing comprise resilient, impact resistantmaterial.
 6. A hand-held terminal as specified in claim 1 wherein anindicator lamp is provided on said top surface of said electronichousing.
 7. A hand-held terminal as specified in claim 1 furthercomprising a trigger on said handle.
 8. A hand-held terminal asspecified in claim 1 wherein said operator control comprises at leastone button.
 9. A hand-held terminal as specified in claim 1 wherein saidoperator control comprises a touch pad.
 10. A cradle for receiving ahand-held terminal, said terminal comprising an ovoid electronic housinghaving a major axis, an intermediate axis and a minor axis and a handlecomprising a handgrip extending from a longitudinal end of saidelectronic housing with respect to said major axis and having a handleaxis at an angle of approximately 15 to 40 degrees from said major axis,a said cradle comprising: a rectangular base having first and secondsidewalls and a rear wall; a front wall comprising a concave cylindricalmounting surface arranged between said sidewalls; and a pocket extendingoutward from said mounting surface for receiving said handle with saidhousing partially surrounded by said cylindrical mounting surface.
 11. Acradle as specified in claim 10 wherein said pocket is arranged at anangle with respect to said cylindrical mounting surface corresponding tosaid angle between said handle axis and said major axis.
 12. A cradle asspecified in claim 10 wherein said pocket includes an electricalconnector for engaging an electrical connector on said handle of saidterminal.
 13. A cradle as specified in claim 10, wherein said pocketincludes an open upper end for receiving said handle and a substantiallyclosed lower end, said lower end having an opening for allowing debristo fall out of said pocket.
 14. A cradle as specified in claim 13wherein an electrical connector is provided at said lower end of saidpocket.
 15. A cradle as specified in claim 10 wherein said pocketincludes a locking member.
 16. A cradle as specified in claim 15 whereinsaid locking member includes a locking circuit connected to anelectrical connector in said pocket, and wherein said locking circuit isarranged to respond to an unlock data signal provided to said electricalconnector.
 17. A cradle as specified in claim 10 wherein at lest aportion of said front wall is fabricated of translucent material andwherein a lamp is provided behind said front wall.
 18. A cradle asspecified in claim 17 wherein said lamp includes a lamp circuitconnected to an electrical connector in said pocket, and responsive to alamp data signal provided to said electrical connector.
 19. A cradle asspecified in claim 10 further including a member extending outwardlyfrom said concave cylindrical mounting surface and facing said pocketfor supporting an optically readable label.
 20. A method for providingself-service terminals to shoppers in a retail establishment,comprising: storing a terminal in a cradle, said cradle including alocking circuit and an electrical connector for supplying power to saidterminals and for receiving data communication from said terminal and anoptically readable label; operating said terminal to read said label andcommunicate label data to a central computer by radio; reading customerprovided identification at a customer service station and communicatingidentification data to said central computer; operating said centralcomputer to verify said customer identification data and to select aterminal for use by said customer; sending a radio release signal fromsaid central computer to said terminal; operating said terminal to senddata communications to said cradle via said connector, said datacommunication operating said locking circuit; and notifying a customerof the selected terminal.
 21. A method as specified in claim 20 whereinsaid notifying step comprises illuminating a portion of said cradle. 22.A method as specified in claim 20 wherein said notifying step comprisesproviding a message on a display screen.
 23. An accessory for a handleon a shopping car or the like, comprising a body member, having areceiving portion arranged to receive a hand-held terminal, a clampingmember connected to said body member and arranged to provide clampingaction with respect thereto, said body member and said clamping memberdefining an intermediate bore for receiving said handle, and aninterchangeable cylindrical clamp spacer having a peripherycorresponding to the cross section of said bore and having an internalcylindrical hole with a cross section selected to closely surroundedsaid handle.
 24. An accessory as specified in claim 23 wherein saidintermediate bore is circular, and comprises semi-circular cylindricalrecesses on said body member and said clamping member.
 25. An accessoryas specified in claim 23 wherein said clamping member is pivotablyconnected to said body member at a first side of said intermediate boreand connected to said body member by a clamping screw at a second sideof said intermediate bore.
 26. An accessory as specified in claim 23wherein said clamp spacer includes an axial slot.
 27. An accessory for ahandle of a shopping cart or the like, comprising a body member having apocket for receiving a handle portion of a hand-held terminal, aclamping member pivotably connected to said body member on one end andclampingly connected to said body member at a second end, each of saidbody and clamping members having a recess in a surface thereof facingthe other of said members, said recesses defining an intermediate borebetween said members for receiving said shopping cart handle, and aninterchangeable cylindrical claim spacer having an axial hole with across section selected to closely surround said handle and a peripherycorresponding to the cross-section of said bore.
 28. An electronicassembly for a hand-held data acquisition terminal comprising: a lowerhousing member having an upper opening; an upper housing member arrangedto close said upper opening and including a display window; a chassisarranged to be mechanically mounted between said lower and upper housingmembers, said chassis having upper and lower recesses; a display mountedin said upper recess of said chassis and facing said display window; afirst circuit mounted in said lower recess of said chassis; and a secondcircuit mounted to said chassis and covering said lower recess and saidfirst circuit mounted therein.
 29. An electronic assembly as specifiedin claim 28 wherein one of said upper and lower housing members includesa window at a longitudinal end thereof, and wherein there is provided anoptical scanner mounted adjacent on a support bracket carried by saidchassis.
 30. An electronic assembly as specified in claim 29 whereinsaid support bracket is mounted to said second circuit and comprises anon-conductive spacer, and wherein an antenna is mounted to saidnon-conductive spacer on a side opposite said second circuit.
 31. A handheld terminal for optically scanning coded information, comprising: anelectronic housing having a major axis, an intermediate axis and a minoraxis and an optical scanning device mounted at a first longitudinal endthereof with respect to said major axis; a multi-line informationdisplay arranged on a top surface of said electronic housing, saiddisplay facing in a direction corresponding to said minor axis; a handlecomprising a handgrip having a handle axis and extending outwardly froman area in the vicinity of the bottom and rear surfaces of saidelectronic housing, said handle axis being located below the major axisand forming an angle of approximately 0 to 45 degrees from said majoraxis and being perpendicular to said intermediate axis; and an operatorcontrol arranged on said top surface adjacent said second end of saidelectronic housing for operation by the thumb of a user.
 32. Thehand-held terminal of claim 31, wherein a machine code activation buttonis located on a forward portion of the handle extending onto the bottomsurface of the electronic housing.
 33. The hand-held terminal of claim31, wherein the top surface of the electronic housing further comprisesat least four keys for controlling the function of the terminal.
 34. Thehand-held terminal of claim 31, wherein the top surface furthercomprises a touch sensitive area for navigating and selection areas onthe display.
 35. The hand-held terminal of claim 31, wherein saidterminal includes a scrolling button for scrolling information on thedisplay, said button having a selection function activated by depressingthe button towards the terminal housing.